Danger Bird and Grateful Allman Band Experience Turned the State Theatre into a Classic Rock Paradise
The historic State Theatre in Falls Church recently hosted an incredible show of classic rock covers. First up was Danger Bird, who covers Neil Young songs. Their performance was so authentic that at times it was hard to tell the difference between them and Neil Young himself!
On Jan. 3 at the State Theatre, among the standout performances by Danger Bird was “Long May You Run,” the title track from the only album ever released by the Stills-Young Band. The band has five regular members: Kennedy Wright singing lead and playing guitar, Alan Main and Fido Mann on guitars (Fido also plays pedal steel), Kevin O’Brien on bass, and Kevin Kramer on drums. For this show, they had a special guest, bassist Holly Montgomery filling in for Kevin O’Brien. She delivered an especially memorable performance on “Down by the River” and she doesn’t just sing “Motorcycle Mama” she rides as well.
Watch Danger Bird perform “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” by Neil Young live on YouTube:
The second band on the bill was the Grateful Allman Band Experience, which played songs by the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers Band, and The Band, paying homage to the largest US outdoor concert ever held at Watkins Glen. Their lineup includes Manny Sanchez singing and playing percussion, Kennedy Wright (also in Danger Bird!) on bass and vocals, Mike Wathen on keyboards, Lenny Stamm and Eric Goldberg on guitars, and Eric Nelson on drums. The crowd stayed on their feet dancing to classics like “Touch of Gray” and “Ramblin’ Man.” Their rendition of “Elizabeth Reed” showcased the instrumental talent of the band members.
Watch the Grateful Allman Band Experience perform “Shape I’m In” by The Band live on YouTube:
Drummer Eric Nelson shared some interesting thoughts about playing at the State Theatre. He’s known the owner, Thomas Carter, since high school and praised how the venue supports both national touring acts and locally based regional touring bands. As he put it, “Some of the other primary DC area venues who cater to the national touring acts don’t really support the regional bands based in the area that much, but Thomas Carter and State Theatre have figured out a way that is profitable for them and meaningful for bands like us.”
He also talked about how far the band has come: “Most of us have been playing the DC/Baltimore area for a few decades or more in various bar bands, where we usually had to wait for them to move tables before we could set up and where our bar tabs sometimes exceeded what we got paid. To be able to play the music we love on a regional touring level at real music venues with big stages, pro sound and lights, green rooms, and hundreds of attendees is a true joy.”
Both bands delivered setlists filled with crowd favorites throughout the night. Danger Bird rocked out with Neil Young classics like “Heart of Gold” and “Like a Hurricane,” while the Grateful Allman Band Experience jammed on hits like “The Weight” and “Whipping Post.” The energy between the bands and the audience made for an unforgettable evening.
The State Theatre itself has quite a story, of course — built in 1936 as a movie theater, it was transformed into a concert venue in the 1990s. The renovation kept many original features, like the stage and balcony seats, while turning the main floor into a space where people can dance, eat, and enjoy drinks from the bars. Music fans who haven’t yet experienced a show at the State Theatre are missing out on one of the area’s best venues for live music.
Setlist provided by the bands —
Grateful Allman Band Experience setlist:
OPHELIA – THE BAND
CRIPPLE CREEK – THE BAND
TOUCH OF GRAY – GRATEFUL DEAD
BROWN EYED WOMEN – GRATEFUL DEAD
RAMBLIN’ MAN – ALLMAN BROTHERS
SOUTHBOUND – ALLMAN BROTHERS
THE SHAPE I’M IN –THE BAND
ACROSS GREAT DIVIDE –THE BAND
CHEST FEVER – THE BAND
ONE MORE SATURDAY NIGHT – GRATEFUL DEAD
SCARLETT’S FIRE – GRATEFUL DEAD
WASTED WORDS – ALLMAN BROTHERS
ELIZABETH REED – ALLMAN BROTHERS
THE WEIGHT – THE BAND
DON’T DO IT – THE BAND
CASEY JONES – GRATEFUL DEAD
NEW SPEEDWAY BOOGIE – GRATEFUL DEAD
WHIPPING POST – ALLMAN BROTHERS
ONE WAY OUT – ALLMAN BROTHERS
Dangerbird setlist:
Heart of Gold
Old Man
Helpless
Long May You Run
Cinnamon Girl
Ohio
Motorcycle Mama – featuring Holly Montgomery
Powdwerfinger
Cowgirl in the Sand
Roll Another Number
Down by the River
Barstool Blues
Cortez the Killer
Southern Man
Sea of Madness
Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)
Like a Hurricane
Rockin’ in the Free World
Here are photos of the cover bands Danger Bird and Grateful Allman Band Experience performing at the State Theatre in Falls Church, Virginia, on Jan. 3, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Dan Rodman.
